Manipulative, attention-attracting device



. J an. 15, 1946. s. EMERSON ET Al. 2,392,908

| MANIPULATIVE, ATTENTION-ATTRACTING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS.

Scoifi/Emezwon; sl oezdonliwazdron flifiya Jan. 15, 1946. s. EMERSON ETAL" v 2,392,908- MANIPULATIVE; ATTENTION-ATTRACTING DEV ICE Filed May 3, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. 600 iil'imz'sow SheZdo'flHWaZdron Jan. 15, 1946. s. EMERSON ET AL 2,392,968.

MANIPULATIVE, ATTENTION-ATTRACTING DEVICE 'Filed May s, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.5.

MANIPULATIVE, ATTENTION-ATTRACTING DEVICE Filed May 3, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIfi JIIIIIIIIIII" IN VEN TORS.

$60 $5 2w @W/ @fieZnffWaldFon Patented Jan. 15, 1946 MANIPULATI'VE, ATTENTION-ATTRACTING' DEVICE Scott Emerson, Wayland, and Sheldon H. Waldron, Boston, Mass.

Application May 3, 1944, Serial No. 533,321

9 Claims.

This invention relates generically to a manipulative attention-attracting device, and which also in use trains'the eyes and develops a sense of color and manipulative skill. As a novelty the device may be used as a greeting card or the like.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, we have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the disclosed embodiment of the invention showing the parts correctly positioned so that the graphic matter thereon is correctly displayed;

Fig. 2 is a view similarto Fig. 1 of such embodiment, but representing the parts so turned that the graphic'matter is disarranged;

Figs. 3 to 7 are plan views of such embodiment on a much smaller scale showing all the basalsupported parts or elements of the device separated from each other;

Fig. 8 is an underneath plan view of sufficient of the basal-supported rings and central disk of such embodiment to show their construction; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section of such embodiment upon a radial line through the central disk and the surrounding basal-supported rings, without cutting through any of the holding or retaining pieces.

The purpose of the invention as set forth in the disclosed embodiment is primarily to provide a manipulative device constituting what may be termed a wind-up picture or other graphic representation, such as a series of letters or numerals which in any disarranged position present a merely apparently unrelated mass of letters, numerals or parts of pictures, but which are brought into their proper relation by relative turning 'movement of a series of concentric basal-supported rings.

Referring more particularly to the disclosed embodiment, we are the first so far as we are.

aware to provide a series of basal-supported rings with interengaging formations in the nature of interlocks so that in the manipulation of the device the correct positioning of each ring is determined by the engagement of its interlocking formation or formations with that or those of another of the rings, whether concentrically outside of or inside of the same, or upon the rings both inside and'outside thereof. While within the scope of our invention the interlocking formations may be of various shapes and their positions and relations to each other may be varied, the drawings disclose the preferred embodiment .of the invention, and while the same will now be specifically described, other forms of such embodiment are within the scope and purpose of our invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is provided a basal member 1 which may be of cardboard, metal, wood or some suitable plastic material, being preferably fiat and thin, and'of such character that the overlying disk and ringlike parts may be secured thereto or assembled thereon.

The parts of the picture or other graphic matter, whether letters, numerals or other representations, are suitably formed upon or applied to an inner disk and a series of concentric rings, which are respectively indicated at 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, though the number of rings may be greater or less, and surrounding the outermost ring is desirably provided a holding or positioning ring I that is secured by staples 8, or otherwise to the basal member I, or may be an integral part there- 'of. The said rings and the central disk may be of any suitable thickness and the rings are preferably each provided at its under side with holding or retaining pieces 9, as'shown most clearly in Fig. 8, by which the several parts of the device are held in the same general plane, but so that they may be relatively turned. Such pieces 9 may be of any suitable number and, if desired, ma be integral with each corresponding ring or may be suitably attached thereto. As shown in Fig. 8, which is an underneath plan, each ring,

beginning at the outermost, has a plurality of the pieces 9 secured flatwise thereto atsaid under face and extending under and being non-attached to the next inner ring, to support such next inner ring in its turning movement. Such next inner ring has a plurality of like pieces 9 secured thereto and extending under and being non-attached to the next inner ring to support the latter in its turning movement. This construction is continued throughout the series of rings. The section line upon which l 'ig. 9 is taken is such that it does not cut through any of the said pieces 9. Also the rings themselves may, if desired, have a character of upper surface that will facilitate the turning or winding movement of the rings, as, for example, by slightly roughening them or providing them at spaced points with slight depressions or elevations in the nature of slight knobs to be engaged by a, finger or thumb of the child or person using the device.

The drawings represent an elephant dressed as a boy and sliding upon a sled, but obviously innumerable variations may be made in this respect and, as above indicated, letters or numerals may her I in any suitable manner as by means of an eyelet. Such disk may be of any suitable diam- 5 and 6 may all be of the same width or may be of different widths and their number maybe greater or less than shown.

Instead of forming the inner and outer edges of the several rings and the edge of the disk 2 of true circular form, we provide interlocking formations thereon at any desired positions and of any suitable number. Referring to the construction of the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the central disk 2 is provided with. an interlock by removing a. segment from the outer edge thereof, of any suitable length and depth, and which is here indicated at H, thus providing two shoulders l2; l3. Such segment may be of any suitable radial depth and of any suitable length, and the shoulders l2, l3 may be truly radial or somewhat inclined.

The ring 3 next outside the disk 2 is upon its inner edge provided with a --prjecting part Hi extending radially inward and which is received within the segment H and is of a substantially less circumferential extent or length than is the cut-out segment it, thus permitting turning movement of the ring 3 withrespect to the disk 2. The outer edge. of the ring 3 is provided with a segment P of suitable length and depth, which provides: shoulders l6, H spaced the desired distance apart and which. maybe truly radial or inclined. The length of the segment to is, in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, greater than the length of the segment I I of the disk 2, but our invention is not limited in this respect. Similarly the next outer ring 4 i provided with a projection 18, thus forming two shoulders l9, 2!! which are any desired or suitable distance from each other and; which may be truly radial or inclined.

While in the present embodiment. the parts all lie in the same horizontal plane (when the device is positioned flatwise on a table), there may be suitable elevations or depressions at the several shoulders or interlocking. formations, though preferably this is not the case. That is to say, our invention is not limited to a structure where the top surface of all the parts of the device fiat and in the same horizontal plane. The said ring 4 at its outer edge is segmentally cut away throughout a suitable portion of its length as indicated at 2!, thus providing shoulders '22, 23

and the ring 5 at its inner edge is at a suitable portion thereof formed with an inwardly extendeter and the concentrically arranged rings 3, 4',

ing edge or formation 24 providing shoulders 25,

26 and the outer edge of said ring Sis segmentally cut away for a desired portion of its circumference and to a-suitable depth, as indicated at 21, to

in certain cases segmental portions cut away and in other cases as having a radially projecting formation in its own plane, it is evident that instead of regarding the rings as having projections, they may be regarded in all cases as having portions segmentally removed from their edges, and as the segmentally removed parts vary in length, they may in some cases be of greater circumferential extent than the part of the circumference of that ring or rings that has not been cut away or removed. That is to say, each ring has at its inner and outer edges interlocking formations, here shown as shoulders, which are so positioned that the child or person using the device turns a ring, beginning where desired, until a shoulder thereon engages a mating shoulder upon the ring next inside or next outside, and when the shoulders are correctly brought together in mating relation, that portion of the picture or other graphic matter is correctly assembled. This procedure is continued until all the rings are turned or wound far enough to bring the necessary shoulders into engagement, and thus to complete the picture- While the holding or positioning ring I. has; been described as secured by staples 8 or otherwise to the basal member I, it is evident that it may be formed integral with said basal member and constitute in efiect a thickened part of said basal member, which thickened part may be co-exten- 'sive in outline with the part: of the basal member and outer edges of such members, thereby furnishing substantially radial shoulders at the ends of the removed portions, the radius item the 'pivotal center of the device to the: outer terminal of each shoulder being slightly greater than the radius to the inner edge'near such shoulder of the member having such shoulder, whereby said respective formations interlock upon suiiicient turning movement of the members in bringing the parts of the graphic; representation into proper relation. The removal of the circumferentially extending portions is not substantially noticeable and does not in the slightest impair the artistry of the device.

Obviously by increasing the number of rings the idea may be carried further and to any extent desired.

Having thus described one embodiment only of our invention, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is defined by the claims and that other structures or embodiments which may be comprehended within their scope areto be regarded as equivalents thereof.

We claim:

1. An educational device comprising a basal member of substantially flat, plate-like. form, a central, circular, disk-like member mounted on the basal member, and a series of concentric,

turnable, ring-like members supported upon said basal member for manual turning movement with their inner and outer edges respectively substantially in contact throughout such series, there being a graphic. representation having portions thereof distributed upon the top surface of a plurality at least of said disk and ring-like 2,392,908 "members, adjacent edges of at leasta' plurality off-said last mentioned members having inter- --locking formations provided by the removal of slightly greater than the radius to the inner edge near such shoulder of the member having such 'slioulder, whereby said respective formations interlock upon sufiicient turning movement of 'the members in bringing the parts of the graphic representation into proper relation.

'2 An educational device comprising a basal member of substantially flat, plate-like form, a central, circular disk-like member pivotally mounted on the basal member, and a series of concentric ring-like members supported upon said basal member for manual turning movement, with their inner and outer edges respectively substantially in contact throughout such series, there being a graphic representation having portions thereof distributed upon the top surface of said pivoted disk and said ring-like members, adjacent edges of the said pivoted disklike member and said ring-like members having interlocking formations provided by the removal of circumferentially extending portions of varying length of the inner and outer edges of such members, thereby furnishing substantially radial shoulders at the ends of the removed portions, the radius from the pivotal center of the device to the outer terminal of each shoulder being slightly greater than the radius to the inner edge near such shoulder of the member having such shoulder, whereby said respective formations interlock upon sufilcient turning movement of the members in bringing the parts of the graphic representation into proper relation.

3. An educational device comprising a basal member of substantially flat, plate-like form, a central, circular, disk-like member pivoted on the basal member, a series of concentric ring-like members supported upon said basal member for manual turning movement with their inner and outer edges respectively substantially in contact throughout such series, an outer ring fixed to the basal member and concentric with the said series of concentric ring-like members, there being a graphic representation having portions thereof distributed upon the top surface of said pivoted disk and said turnable ring-like members, adjacent edges of said pivoted disk and turnable ring-like members having interlocking shoulders provided by the removal of circumferentially extending portions of varying length of the inner and outer edges of such members, thereby furnishing substantially radial shoulders at the ends of the removed portions, the radius from the pivotal center of the device to the outer terminal of each shoulder being slightly greater than the radius to the inner edge near such shoulder of the member having such shoulder, whereby said respective formations interlock upon sufficient turning movement of the members in bringing the parts of the graphic representation into proper relation.

4. An educational device in accordance with claim 2, but wherein the manually turnable rings are respectively provided at their under sides with holding formations engaging the under; side of the next adjacent ring-like member.

5. A manipulative, attention-attracting device particularly for the amusement or instruction of children, comprising a basal member of sheet or disk-like form and a plurality of at least two concentrically arranged ring-like'members and an inner circular member supported thereon for relative turning movement about a common cen- "ter and being sheet-like in thickness, the top surfaces thereof being all substantially flush with each other, the said three or more members each having at a series of points spaced circumferentially thereof the representation of an animal,

the anatomical parts whereof are so distributed that upon the outermost of the said ring-like members appear the heads of the several animals,

upon the next inner ring-like member appear the bodies of such animals and upon the next inner member the legs ofsuch animals, whereby one or more of said ring-like members and said circular member may be turned to bring the animal representations thereof into natural matching relation or into unnatural matching with other than the appropriate figures of ani- -mals, thereby producing imaginary or fantastic representations of animals, said ring-like members being provided by the removal of circumferentially extending portions of varying length of the inner and outer edges of such members, thereby furnishing substantially radial shoulders at the ends of the removed portions, the radius from the pivotal center of the device to the outer terminal of each shoulder being slightly greater than the radius to the inner edge near such shoulder of the member having such shoulder, whereby said respective formations interlock upon sufiicient turning movement of the members in bringing the parts of the graphic representation into proper relation.

6. A manipulative, attention-attracting device particularly for the amusement or instruction of children, comprising a basal member of sheet or disk-like form and a plurality of at least two concentrically arranged ring-like members and an inner circular member supported thereon for relative turning movement about a common center and being sheet-like in thickness, the top surfaces thereof being all substantially flush with each other, the said three or more members each having at a series of points spaced circumferentially thereof the representation of an animate or inanimate object, the true parts whereof are so distributed that the said objects correctly appear in natural matching relation when the ringlike members and the circular member are turned into one position and appear in unnatural matching relation when turned to another position, said ring-like members being provided by the removal of circumferentially extending portions of varying length of the inner and outer edges of such members, thereby furnishing substantially radial shoulders at the ends of the removed portions, the radius from the pivotal center of the device to the outer terminal of each shoulder being slightly greater than the radius to the inner edge near such shoulder of the member having such shoulder, whereby said respective formations interlock upon sufficient turning movement of the members in bringing the parts of the graphic representation into proper relation.

'7. A manipulative, attention-attracting device particularly for the amusement or instruction of children, comprising a basal member of sheet or disk-like form and a plurality of at least two concentrically arranged ring-like members and an inner circular member supported thereon for relative turning movement about a common center and being, Sheets-like. in thickness-,, the top surfaces thereof beingali substantially flush. with each other, the said. three or more members. each having; at a series or points spaced circumferentially thereof the representation or an animate orinanimate objects, the parts whereof are-interchangeable in representation so as by the turning manipulation. of the said rings. and circular memher to produce fantastic. or imaginary objects, said ring-like members, being provided bythe removal of circumferentially extending portions being slightly greater than, the radius to the inner edge near such shoulder of the member having such shoulder, whereby said respective iormations'interlock upon sufficient turning movement of the members in bringing the parts of the graphic representation into proper relation.

8. An educational device in accordance with claim 2, but wherein the interlocking formations :aeeaeos are: presided. by sesmentailr cutting; away it nortion. of an ed e of ach or said turntab e tineik mbe s for i ter hsas m nt espectiv lrwith the next adjacent edge of a next adjacent memher, the cut-v-away portion of the several members being of progressively greater extent from the innermost member to. the outermost.

9. An educational, device in accordance with claim 2, but wherein the interlocking formations are provided upon the inner edges of the tnmable ring-like members. by segmentally cutting away a part of such edges for interengagement respectively with the next, inner member, and are provided upon the outer edges of such, rin -like members by extending radially outward a portion of such outer edges for interengagement. respectively with the next outermemher, there-dial, inwardly extending portions of said ring-like members and the cut-away portions of said ring;- li-kemembers being of progressively increasing length from the innermost to. the outermost of said members.

SCOTT I SHELDON H. WALDRON. 

